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INDI Library v2.0.7 is Released (01 Apr 2024)

Bi-monthly release with minor bug fixes and improvements

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New Feature: Blinking Images

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New Feature: Blinking Images was created by Hy Murveit

I've introduced a new set of features in KStars/Ekos related to "blinking" images--that is, comparing sets of images that you've just captures or are sitting on your disk.  

I have made a video to tour you through the new features. You can access it here:



In short there are 3 new ways of blinking images.
  1. Opening Multiple Images. From a FITS Viewer, when you click on File -> Open, you can select multiple files to open. (Previously you could only select one file.) If, for example, you select 10 files, then 10 new tabs will open in your FITS Viewer. You can move from tab to tab either by clicking on the desired tab, or by the keyboard shortcut Control-Tab (next tab) or Control-Shift-Tab (previous tab). When you zoom-in, the new shortcuts Control-Alt-+/Control-Alt-- zoom all the tabs instead of just the current one. All these shortcuts are listed under the View menu, and are also available using your mouse. This blinking method has the advantage of quick switches between images (all the file reading and computation is done in advance), but you wouldn't want to open up many more than 10 or so tabs.

  2. Opening a Directory of Images. From a FITS Viewer, when you click on File -> Open/Blink Directory, you select a directory and all image files in that directory and in directories below it are put in a list. The first such image is opened and displayed in a tab. You can go to the next/previous image using the View->Next/Previous Blink Image commands, or via the keyboard shortcuts Control-Shift-Right/Left. Using this method you can blink an unlimited number of images, but each new image will be loaded and computed on demand, so switching between images may be slightly slower than the first technique.

  3. Opening images on the Analyze timeline. Using Analyze, click on an image on the timeline. After doing that Control-Right/Left will display the next/previous image in a FITS Viewer. You can also double-click on the image. Similar to method 2, this will load the images on demand. This technique is useful for browsing all the images captured during a particular Ekos session.  If any image files are not found, a warning is printed in the log area at the bottom of the Analyze page. If nothing happens when you type control-Right, it may be that your Analyze window has lost "keyboard focus". You can get that back by clicking somewhere on the Analyze window. Note, Control-Left/Right also works for all the other types of timeline sessions (e.g. going to the next autofocus), though nothing would be displayed on a FITS Viewer.

As always, feedback is welcome.
The following user(s) said Thank You: Alfred, Jarno Paananen, Jerry Black, AstroMuni, John, Fitchie, Juergen_from_Bavaria
2 months 1 week ago #99046

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Replied by Alfred on topic New Feature: Blinking Images

Extremely useful new features, very well explained! Thanks a lot, Hy!
2 months 1 week ago #99055

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Replied by Fitchie on topic New Feature: Blinking Images

This is cool !

Thank you !
:)
1 month 4 weeks ago #99379

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Replied by AstroMuni on topic New Feature: Blinking Images

Awesome feature, Hy! Thank you. I particularly like the way you can review images via Analyze.
Clear Skies,
Pramod


My kit: SW 130PDS on a HEQ5 Pro mount, ZWO ASI533mc Pro, 30mm guidescope with ASI120mm mini, managed using Kstars/Ekos, RPi with Stellarmate OS, ASI224mc, bits and bobs for visual observations.
1 month 4 weeks ago #99425

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Replied by Eli Ron on topic New Feature: Blinking Images

This is a great enhancement to the FIT's viewer functionality! Would there be an advantage in also including an option to automate blinking at set fps. I think it may be helpful in identifying possible asteroids and comets in frames preprocessing. Really great work (on the video as well)! thank you!!

Eli
1 month 4 weeks ago #99434

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